9 Sweet Things Dolly Parton Has Said About Her Husband, Carl Dean

Parton met Carl Dean when she was just 18 years old.

Dolly Parton is known for many things. Her angelic voice, her curvaceous figure and her charity work are just a few of the reasons so many people love the country music icon. However, something that is not as frequently mentioned is her marriage of more than 50 years.

Parton met Carl Dean when she was just 18 years old. The pair have been wed since 1966. Judging by the sweet statements she has made, it seems their love is as true as ever, even after all these years.

1. They Don’t Argue

In a January 1981 interview with “Playgirl,” Parton said she and her spouse get touchy at times, but they take a break instead of bickering.

“I’d rather argue with anybody rather than Carl, ’cause I don’t want that stuff between us,” she said. “It would hurt my feelings too much if he got so mad that he said somethin’ really hard to me. It would just crush me and it would be the same with him if I said somethin’ really awful to him like people do when they’re really mad.”

2. They Are Committed

Parton mentioned Dean throughout her book “Dream More: Celebrate the Dreamer in You.”

“I take commitment very seriously,” she wrote. “You find its importance to me in every aspect of my life, but where it is most important to me is in my relationship with Carl. Like everyone else, we have our ups and downs, but we have always been and will always be committed to our love for each other.”

3. They’d Do It All Again

For their 50th wedding anniversary, the two renewed their wedding vows. In true Dolly fashion, she sold photos of the event to raise money for her literacy charity, Imagination Library. The decision to say “I do” again was easy, she said.

“If I had it to do all over, I’d do it all over again, and we did,” she said in a press release. “I’m dragging him kicking and screaming into the next 50 years.”

4. They Know Each Other Well

In a 2014 “Today” interview discussing her album “Blue Smoke,” Parton mentioned that Dean is not fond of her music.

“I know every line in his face and he knows every hair in my wig,” she said. “(He’s) not particularly (a fan of my songs), but he loves me. He loves me.”

5. Thoughtfulness Counts

When speaking of their 50 years together, Dolly said it was no accident their love has remained so strong.

“It’s all about the sweet little things he does,” she said in an interview with News24, “like picking flowers for me, making my coffee in the morning. He is incredibly thoughtful and we love each other for all the same reasons.”

6. It’s a Forever Thing

In February, Dolly shared an Instagram post with a throwback photo of Carl planting a sweet smooch on her cheek.

9. Their Love Was Destined

In a 2011 interview, Dolly spoke of meeting her husband. “It was as if God said: This is the man that’s going to love and understand you,” she told Parade. “And Carl felt like he’d been looking for me, someone who wouldn’t try to strangle him, because he’s pretty independent. It seemed like we were brought together for a reason.”